Eaton trying to give away free home

The town is offering a home for free so it can continue with its plans for a town square. The only catch is the taker will have to pay the moving costs to relocate the home.

The home, which has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, was built in the early 1900s and was a church until the mid 1980s when a new owner converted it into a residence.

Don Cadwallader, assistant city manager, said the town acquired the home when it purchased the property and land around it to secure space for a future town square, which will cover the area from 1st and Collins streets to Elm and Maple avenues.

The city attempted to get the home listed as a historic building from the state but because the home had been modified from its original design, the city was unable to. When it was converted into a home, the owner took out the bell chapel and added a second level.

Cadwallader said the church is in good condition and will go to the first takers who will pay to take the home off the property.

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He said it would cost the city about $20,000 to tear the building down. So far, the town has had about a dozen or so bites on the home.

“We want to get rid of it,” Cadwallader said. “Either take it or we will have to tear it down. We would just have someone get good out of it.”

Currently, the plans for the town square are on hold because the funding of it was based on growth and the city has seen the number of new homes level off in the past two years.

“We hope to begin to do some things with the town square by next year,” Cadwallader said.

Anyone interested in taking the home, contact the city of Eaton at 454-3338.